LIVE MARKETS-Europe heading for weak open; Italy, chipmakers in focus

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EUROPE HEADING FOR WEAK OPEN; ITALY, CHIPMAKERS IN FOCUS (0656 GMT)

European stock futures point to a weak open with France seen sharply lower after yesterday's outperformance as rising political tensions in Italy and Huawei headlines overnight bring back turbulence in stock markets.

A Bloomberg report overnight that Washington will hold off on a decision about licensing U.S. companies to restart business with Huawei could hit chipmakers and trade-sensitive sectors. Dealers see Italian banks opening 2% lower after Matteo Salvini called for early elections.

Also worth keeping an eye for is UK GDP numbers, which are due at 0830 GMT.

In companies, Novo Nordisk is seen rising 2-3% as the Danish pharma company lifted its 2019 sales outlook after estimate-beating second-quarter results.

In the UK, Hikma is seen up 1% after it raised its sales outlook for the generic drug business and AstraZeneca shares are expected to rise 1% after its trial showed its Tagrisso drug helps lung cancer patients live longer.

G4S shares could get a lift after its board approved plans to separate its cash solutions business. The British security contractor says it received unsolicited expressions of interest from third parties.

WPP's better-than-expected organic sales performance in the second quarter is seen driving the world's biggest advertising company's shares 2-3% higher.

In further evidence of the service-based economy doing much better than industrials, German IT systems provider Bechtle beat Q2 expectations with shares seen rising 5% pre-market.

Meanwhile, car parts maker Hella reported fourth-quarter results in-line with pre-released numbers but Jefferies analyst points to weak auto margins.

Key headlines:

Drugmaker Novo Nordisk lifts sales outlook on new diabetes, obesity treatments

Innogy loses more customers in Britain

Chairman of Italy's UniCredit Fabrizio Saccomanni dies suddenly at 76

Airbus Says Wins 246 Gross Aircraft Orders In Jan-July

WPP posts better than expected second quarter performance

Security firm G4S to separate cash solutions business

BAE finance chief to step down next year, taps Greve to take over

William Hill profit hit by regulatory cap, U.S. expansion costs

AstraZeneca Tagrisso helps lung cancer patients live longer -study

(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)

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UNEASY EASE IN EUROPE (0542 GMT)

After yesterday's exuberance which saw the pan European STOXX 600 stage one of its biggest daily gains this year and without any immediate sign that the tit-for-tat spat between Beijing and Washington isn't escalating (for now), European stock markets are expected to hit pause again.

How long that lasts is not clear as attention turns from the other side of the pond to Italy after the leader of Italy's ruling League party, deputy prime Minister Matteo Salvini, declared the governing coalition unworkable late last night after months of internal bickering and said the only way forward was to hold fresh elections.

Investors are also still cautious after the tumultuous week since U.S. President Trump announced plans for further tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated by devaluing the yuan and the benchmark is set for its second weekly drop.

Also weighing on risk appetite is a report that Washington is delaying a decision about licenses for U.S. firms to restart trade with Huawei Technologies.

Still for now markets appear to have stabilised overnight. IG financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 20 points lower at 7,266, Frankfurt's DAX to open 44 points lower at 11,801, and Paris' CAC to open 26 points lower at 5,362.

(Josephine Mason)

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(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Josephine Mason and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)